Historic Samurai Collection Is Here in Nashville Till Jan.16, 2017.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Frist Center for the Visual Arts is presenting a historic samurai collections including weapons, armor, techniques and the Japanese way of life to the people of Nashville from Nov. 4, 2016 to Jan. 16, 2017.

The exhibition "Samurai: The Way of the Warrior” examines the traditions of this legendary class warrior, whose political dominance affected Japanese art and culture for nearly 700 years. The collection is drawn from the rich holdings of the Museo Stibbert, a museum primarily devoted to arms and armors in Florence, Italy.

“It is considered the largest museum in the world outside of Japan in samurai collection,” said Frist Center tour guide and teacher Keith McLusky.

 The exhibition features more than 90 different functional and decorative objects created between the 15th and 19th centuries, providing information and insights about the samurai's traditions, lifestyles, morals, culture and aesthetic code. The exhibition includes a mini-cinema room that displays a small part of the program, "Samurai and Cinema".

The selective collection includes up to nine full suits of armor, 12 expressive samurai helmets or so-called "Kabuto", and spectacular helmets or "Kawari Kabuto". While the samurai armor’s main function is to protect its wearer, it is also incredibly visually stunning, constructed from materials such as bearskin, silk, buffalo horns, and horsehair. The armors display the power, elegance and proudness of the individual samurai. The armors are usually displayed at home when they are not in use.

The sword of the samurai (Katana) is widely recognized and popular across the globe for its aesthetic design, cutting-edge technology, effort in its craftsmanship, and its performance. The katanas are not always the same. They vary in many sizes and designs and have their own purposes. However, the katana is not the only main weapon of the samurai. The long bow (Yumi) is also a very effective weapon of the samurai. The bow is incredibly tall, typically over 2 meters. Since the Yumi is not that much different from other types of long bows in other cultures, it is not as widely known as the katana.

The term samurai refers to elite warriors who played an important role in Japanese politics and society from the late 12th century until the mid-19th Century. The samurai is incredibly brave, courageous, honorable and loyal.

"Samurai are elite fighters, very well-trained,” said Keith McLusky. "They live to fight. Even if samurai don't fight anymore, they still train, wear uniform and armors, and get involved in civil life and politics. They will still display their armor and wear their uniforms at home to show that they are proud samurais, fighters."

The admission to the First Center is free for visitors that are 18 or younger and $12 for adults. College students with ID only need to pay $9. The Frist Center is open seven days a week on the following schedule: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; and 1 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information about the exhibit “Samurai: The way of the Warrior”, visit www.fristcenter.org/calender/detail/samurai-the-way-of-warrior.